Itumo headlines ANZA MMA Pro Nights 3 as all eight bouts end in first-round finishes

Itumo’s victory capped a night in which all eight bouts ended in the first round at the Village Market rooftop on Friday, September 19.

The third edition of the professional fight night featured fighters from Kenya, Angola, Uganda, Tanzania, Madagascar and South Sudan.

Itumo was awarded the Submission of the Night prize for his victory, which came before a packed crowd at the Nairobi venue.

Angola’s Daniela Mandanji also impressed on her professional debut, defeating Uganda’s Rebecca Amongi by rear-naked choke in the flyweight division.

Mandanji stepped into the professional ranks after a successful amateur career that included gold at the 2025 IMMAF Amateur World Championships and several national titles in Angola.

Kenya recorded two more victories, with Brian Munyi securing a featherweight TKO win over Uganda’s Cyplian Katumba, while Kevin Odongo stopped Uganda’s Kasozi Umaru in the heavyweight division to claim the KO of the Night award.

Tanzania’s Rashid Mlegelo and Chris Tibenda, Madagascar’s Tsinjo Rakotomaria and South Sudan’s Alhassan Mosala also recorded victories on a card that produced eight first-round finishes.

Rakotomaria’s win over Uganda’s Lawrence Mukiibi earned him the Fight of the Night award.

The event also featured Angola’s Demarte Pena “The Wolf”, a former EFC and ARES world champion, who attended as a special guest and referee.

ANZA MMA founder Peng Chen announced that the promotion will introduce official championship belts at its next professional event scheduled for December.

Chen said the belts will help build the identity of the Pro Fight Nights series while providing fighters with more opportunities to compete and gain exposure.

The event also featured fan engagement activities through Chezacheza.com, with participants given an opportunity to win up to KSh1 million by correctly predicting fight outcomes.

ANZA MMA Pro Nights 3 brought together fighters, fans, gym representatives and members of the MMA community from across Africa, further highlighting Nairobi’s role in the continent’s growing professional mixed martial arts scene.